The squatters will stay at a Gordon Ramsay pub in London until they are evicted, according to a friend of those trapped inside the building.
The group holed up last week at the York & Albany, near Regent’s Park, north London.
Lawyers for Gordon Ramsay Holdings International Limited (GRHI) have since obtained a High Court order securing possession of the premises.
The ruling clears the way for High Court enforcement officers to take over the Grade II listed building in the coming days.
Some of the squatters initially said they would comply with the decision and four people left the premises yesterday.
The York & Albany pub near Regent’s Park, London – a Gordon Ramsay pub occupied by squatters
Squatters return to the York & Albany pub. A group of people locked themselves inside the Grade II listed hotel and gastropub
A man who said he was a friend of one of the squatters briefly entered the York & Albany on Friday and later said they would stay put.
“They’re going to wait for the bailiff,” he said, adding, “That’s basically what they’re going to end up doing.”
The friend, who did not want to give his name but said he was a former squatter himself, said the people inside the building were young, homeless and had been squatting for a long time in various places.
“They are quite professional and have been doing this for years,” he said, adding: “The building looks immaculate inside.”
One of the squatters who left the area returned yesterday accompanied by another man.
The squatters then closed the windows and made hand gestures to journalists outside.
On Thursday, GRHI’s lawyers obtained an order from Judge Simon Brown allowing them to repossess the property.
Members of the London branch of the Anarchist Association and the Camden Art Cafe have been accompanying the squatters since their arrival last week.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. The former pub and hotel is on sale for £13 million, after a legal battle over the lease between the Hell’s Kitchen star and director Gary Love, who owns the building.
The group holed up at the York & Albany last week. Lawyers for Gordon Ramsay Holdings International Limited (GRHI) have since obtained a High Court order securing possession of the premises.
In an Instagram post, Camden Art Cafe announced it would be leaving the premises, but added: “We wish those remaining in the building the best of luck in their endeavors.”
The group of squatters ran a cafe outside the building last week, handing out free food and drinks to “Camden residents who have been victims of gentrification and parasitic projects like HS2”.
One squatter said: “We are not bad people. I pay my taxes, I have a job, I work in a pub.
He added: “We just need somewhere to stay, that’s all. We’re trying to do a good thing here.
The former pub and hotel building is on sale for £13million, after a lengthy legal battle between the Hell’s Kitchen frontman and director Gary Love.
In 2007, Mr Love bought the freehold of the premises and then leased the pub to Mr Ramsay for 25 years at an annual rent of £640,000.
The celebrity chef tried to free himself from the lease in 2015, but was unsuccessful in the High Court.
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